Maus by Art Spigelman

     This week, I read  Maus by Art Spiegelman. Even though this is a re-read, I became aware of even more themes and saw a lot of purpose behind a lot more of the smaller more subtle things Art does in his book. There are many peculiar and questionable things in the book that I believe should have some sort of meaning or social message behind it. However, I also believe the book itself is a larger social message. This is due to the historical setting and meaning. The setting, for the most part being Eastern Europe during World War Two, in itself already hints at the nature and complexity of this story. Furthermore, Art's comic book style format and illustration give the book a gritty but slightly melancholic tone. In fact, grief and sadness is a large theme in the story. This is emphasized greatly by the inclusion of an unpublished, explicit short comic about the day Art's mother died entitled, "Nightmare on The Hell Planet". It features Art arriving bak to his home in Queens, New York. The comic features more realistic animations compared to the animalistic drawings representing different groups of people in the original story,
      Furthermore about the comic, it contains explicit details, from blood to hyperrealistic facial features. For example, Art's mother had committed a tragic suicide. The body that had been left unnoticed (she was home alone) was drawn in the boxed section. Very specific details include slits on the wrist of his mother, spilled pill bottles, and a naked corpse in a shower. This attention to disturbing detail was meant to almost scare the reader. To the point where they could feel how he felt that day, horrified and grief induced. The comic isn't the only example of grief and sadness and disturbing, mind twisting detail. Its in fact throughout the book. Spiegelman didn't hold back because he wanted to describe the world's worst horror to the best of his ability: the Holocaust. Yes, his father survives. The struggle, pain, and fear were all insurmountable for many, many others however.

Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich by Mark Kreigel

    This week, I continued my book, "Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich,".  Previously, Kreigel told the upcomings of Pete's father, Press, as a high school and college coach. Furthermore, it shows more of Pete's life, especially how hard he worked as a youth to be the best high school basketball player he could, and eventually be became the best at the time. In fact, it's probably safe to say that it's emphasized greatly. For example, Kreigel could be talking about Press, then he'd mention how Pete would be at each practice that Press held with his teams. From there, Kreigel would go on long tangents about the many drills and routines Pete would do either alone or with his father, who encouraged him and sometimes pushed him to be a great player. After thinking about it, I had to conclude that maybe in fact that Kreigel meant to do this for a variety of reasons. These being that he wants to emphasize the hardship and difficulty of being great, he wants to teach the lesson of being responsible for your own personal goals,  and that he's trying to quantify the actual amount of work and dedication needed to go pro, something many youths nowadays don't realize.
    I would like to start on my last reason. Kids are immature, no matter however they present themselves. They believe they know everything, and sometimes I feel the same. Except the fact of the matter is that they don't. This, mixed with an misguided belief that they'll someday go pro could really influence their academics and social life. Some kids go as far as dropping out for, high school because they believe they're that good. Kreigel is trying to warn youths who read his book that its not easy and doesn't just happen by fate, it takes the full extent of ones body and mind. Moving along, I also believe Kreigel is trying to motivate those who are almost meeting their ultimate goal to push forward even more to fully achieve it. Some people in life come so close but then give up because they can't make the final push, so I especially like this theory. Lastly, Kreigel also wants to teach his readers that opportunity doesn't always come to them. They have to mostly make their own and take it when it there. This way, anyone one doing anything could be successful.

Lincoln: A Team Of Rivals

    This book, in itself is very confusing. Mostly being that its filled with such specific facts that are accurate down to what each of Lincoln's rivals wore on a regular basis. However, when I started to recognize the level of vocabulary and catch up to speed with where I was at by slowing my pace and retreading some pages, I managed I understand the overall purpose of the book. Although its Hirt self explanatory on the front cover, if you're not an experienced reader it'd be hard to understand that the book, at least from what I read so far, is a biography of Lincoln and his rivals during the time prior of the Republican National Convention and the nomination for Republican candidacy.
  Doris Kearns Goodwin goes in extremely deep with her attention to historical, emotional, and even physical aspects of these men. In a time of imminent Civil War, there are 5 capable and potential men who could've lead our country through a time of war: Abraham Lincoln, Edward Bates,  William H. Seward, and Salmon P. Chase. These men, although presented to have almost identical ideals (being of the Republican and Radical Republican parties), have very different lives, upbringings, and experience. For example, Edaward Bates I believe, according to the book, has more political experience being a long time statesman from Missouri. In comparison, Seward, former governor of New York, and Chase, former Ohio governor, had only been in office for a term or two before. Lincoln had even less experience.
  I honestly enjoy this book's attention to detail. To be more honest, I think it's the most detailed book I've ever read ever. It's incredibly accurate down to what each persons usual habits and most proud achievements were. I also took note of how large the book is itself, being longer than average textbooks being almost 1000 pages. I'm only on page 54. My dad got me this book for Christmas. Was I a bit mad? Yes, but only because it was so long. However, I cant complain anymore. This book is great.

"Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich" by Mark Kreigel

  Recently, I have started reading a biogrhy of former NBA star and legend Pete Maravich. The title "Pistol: The Life Of Pete Maravich," hints at the source of Maravich's success and fame up until his death in 1980. The book, although a biography, gives off a tone of education almost, even though most scholars would find the information uninteresting. However, for youths who play basketball, it seems to serve as an inspiration. Foremost, this is seen in the first three chapters or so as Kreigel describes the college career and the hard youth of Pete's father, Press Maravich. It accurately describes his life as a rags to riches and fame. From starting out as a small Serbian kid from the mills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to being a high school and LSU college star, Press' story has to be considered more than just anecdote of Pete's early life.
  I also see the inclusion of Press' story as a setup to start the explanation of Pete's life. This is because the story itself indicated directly that Press wanted Pete to be brought up in his personal image. As for that, Press succeeded as his son became a national basketball star for his prolific scoring in college and amazing pro career as an Atlanta Hawk, Boston Celtic, and New Orleans/Utah Jazz player. I believe that the story of  Press' success affected how Pete turned out in it that Press wanted his son to feel the same happiness he did playing the game. I believe that this is really special because so many other people, young or old feel or felt the same way. To not see that the author may have soley wrote this book to inspire or fuel the mind of an aspiring youth is hard to do. I honestly believe that I enjoy this book for that very reason. It educates me on a small part of a large history of the great game that is basketball.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

  I have started a new book called "The Giver," by Lois Lowry. Even though I had read this book in the past in around fifth grade, I was able to establish newer ideas I had missed as a younger student. In addition, I've also been able to make valid connections from the world in the book and to our world.
  The book is mainly centered so far around an 11-year old boy named Jonas. In contrast to our world, boys and girls his age are referred as "Elevens,". This is according to each child's age up until age 12, where they are considered matured and adult enough to start working and "contributing to the community,". In fact, there is a ceremony of "stepping up," in age each year. In this book, Jonas is anxious for his 12 ceremony since 12s always get their job assignments that they carry out up until they are "released," from the community.      
  I found this organization of a community like this extremely peculiar. To me it seemed almost too organized as it it were set by strict law by a strict legislature or one who would rule with an iron fist. In fact, it maybe be even safe to say that Jonas' community, simply named so, is somewhat of an organized socialist dystopia. This is considering the following: the story gives lots of example as to how Jonas' world is unmilitarized however it is socialist. The government or whoever set the rules in Jonas' community is obviously trying to bring the community as close as possible. However, there are several restrictions that make this more than just a community therapy session. For example, there is no freedom of being rude or excessively upset. Although its an accepted emotion, you can express it in any other way besides saying "I'm mad,". Furthermore, The Community can control your natural hormonal urges. As opposed to our world where people can produce their own offspring, there is an organized method of artificial birth and distribution of newborn children to "family units,". So not only would natural reproduction be impossible, the act of desire for recreational intercourse is forbidden. Much like George Orwell's "1984," people are geared toward chastity. However in The Community, people begin taking pills that eliminate sexual attraction in all forms at an early age up until they get old.

1984 by George Orhwell Part 2: Comparison to Present

  The book "1984" by George Orhwell deals  with very complex political ideas. The ideas exercised in the book are what generally makes the setting and tone of the story unique to ours. For example, the superstate of Oceania ( composed of North America, South America, and Europe ) has a tolitarian government that follows the doctrine of Ingsoc, otherwise known as English Socialism. In our world, those two words usually don't work in unison in light of our heavily democratic ideals. However, after some event during 1914 ( possibly World War One ), socialist ideals started to become the fad of international governments and by some extreme phenomenon, the world was split into three large regions.
  One other large difference in the book in comparison to our world is the frequency, utilization, and the generally meaning of war. Although war is still a terrible thing in our world, the world of the book sees war more as a societal necessity so that people have something to believe in and something to want to suffer for. If there had been no fighting at all, then people would simply not see the point in working long hours for little pay. Also, the "wars" fought in "1984" are continuous. However, it's fought on a drastically smaller basis. The actual combat and bloodshed of war takes place only a certain, unconquered, equitorial mass of land in which contains valuable minerals, resources, etc. The men sent to fight are no more than squads of 100 men, and in the end there never is a clear winner. Our world tries to avoid war as much as possible ( or it is we percieve it does ) while war is a societal necessity and is a large part in continuing propagandas in a socialist world.

Social Action Reading Question #1: What Difficult of Complex Things are Happening in the Text

   In the book "1984" by George Orhwell, socialism has flooded Earth and the world is split into three major states, Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. The land of Oceania is home to our main character, Winston Smith, who is an anxious young man who works for the governing group of Oceania, "the party". The Party is a socialist political party that controls all of former Western Europe, Russia, and Australia. The policies they implement are highly against our nation's constitution, however, the Socialism in the world has been around for so long that virtually all of the constitution in our country could be deemed treasonous by the Party. For example, the government can alter past and present pieces information that could be found in libraries and other areas to obtain information. In fact, Winston works for that department, despite recently realizing the wrong and injustice he's been taught to commit.
  The book was not actually written in 1984 however, but in 1944. In 1944, World War Two was just ending. One really big and difficult, complex thing that is going on in the book is the spread of communism through the USSR. I could easily point out several symbols to lead me to that conclusion. One major one being that "Big Brother", the head of the Party, could symbolize Joseph Stalin. Also, if you really think back to World War Two, England and Russia never really got along until years after. So it's possible between World War Two and the Cold War that Russia took over all of Europe and Australia. Another difficult and complex thing that's going on is the segregation of lower class beings. The book mentions proles, people who work laborious jobs, live shorter lives,  and basically live the life of the lower class. However, they never chose their fate. It was determined by them through genetic relationships to the old inhabitants of England.